In this work, a new oligomer matrix-assisted dispersion (OMAD) method for the preparation of homogeneous dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) incorporated monolithic column was developed. Oligomers matrix as a scaffold could allow MWNTs to entangle with it instead of self-aggregation, so the MWNTs remain in the polymer network followed by in situ self-solidification. The OMAD method not only greatly enlarged the BET surface area of MWNTs incorporated monolithic column from 13.8 m2 g−1 to 85.5 m2 g−1 without a significant effect on the surface chemistry of the MWNTs, but also improved the dispersion of MWNTs making its content up to 5 wt% (with respect to monomers). The synthesized materials combine the favorable attributes of both high permeability and large surface area, making them excellent candidates for on-line separation and enrichment of proteins. The oligomer matrix-assisted dispersion MWNTs incorporated monolithic columns (OMAD-MMC) exhibited higher enrichment factors and the adsorption capacity is about 5-fold for basic proteins compared with MWNTs incorporated monolithic columns (MMC) prepared by the conventional in situ polymerization. The practical application of OMAD-MMC was proven by selective extraction of hemoglobin in human whole blood samples with SDS-PAGE. On the basis of the results, OMAD as a simple and effective method for dispersion high content MWNTs into monolithic columns shows great promise.

•MOF-199/GO hybrid composites were firstly used as the SPME coating.•The incorporation of graphene greatly enhanced the extraction sensitivity of MOF-199.•MOF-199/GO fiber was successfully applied to determine OCPs in complicated samples.The hybrid material of a copper-based metal-organic framework (MOF-199) and graphite oxide (GO) was explored as the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coating for the first time. This fiber was fabricated by using 3-amino-propyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as the cross-linking agent, which enhanced its durability and allowed more than 140 replicate extractions. With the incorporation of GO, the MOF-199/GO fibers with GO contents ranging from 5 to 15 wt% exhibited enhanced adsorption affinity to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) compared to MOF or GO individually. This improvement was linked to the enhanced dispersive forces (increased volume of small pores) that provided by the dense carbon layers of GO. Combining the superior properties of high porosity of MOFs and the unique layered character of GO, the MOF-199/GO (10 wt%) fiber exhibited higher adsorption affinity to some OCPs than commercial polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) fibers. This new fiber was developed for headspace (HS) SPME of eight OCPs followed by GC/ECD analysis. The limits of detection were 2.3–6.9 ng/L. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for five replicate extractions using one fiber ranged from 5.3% to 8.8%. The fiber-to-fiber reproducibility was 5.2–12.8%. This method was successfully used for simultaneous determination of eight OCPs from river water, soil, water convolvulus and longan with satisfactory recoveries of 90.6–104.4%, 82.7–96.8%, 72.2–107.7% and 82.8–94.3%, respectively. These results indicated the MOF-199/GO composite provided a promising alternative in sample pretreatment.

In this work, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes were covalently functionalized with l-histidine (His–MWNTs) as online pseudospecific affinity adsorbent for immunoglobulin G (IgG) separation and purification with a simple surface modification method, using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimde (NHS). The affinity of the His–MWNTs toward IgG was investigated in a microcolumn incorporated into a sequential injection system, which also involves an UV spectrometer with a flow cell for online real-time detection. The incorporation of histidine as affinity groups noticeably increased the selectivity and binding capacity of MWNTs for IgG and the His–MWNTs exhibited high retention and recovery rate of nearly 100% under optimized conditions. This separation and enrichment process made it possible to determine a lower concentration range of IgG in serum from 1.0–33 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.3 μg/mL with a sampling volume of 4.0 mL. The static and dynamic adsorption capacities obtained were 267 mg of IgG/g His–MWNTs and 35 mg/g in aqueous solution, respectively, which are among the highest reported results in literatures employing affinity separation methods. Desorption of IgG from His–MWNTs could be accomplished by lowering the pH to 1.5 with glycine–HCl buffer. The practical application of His–MWNTs for separation of IgG in serum was evaluated with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which confirmed that the purity of recovered IgG from human serum was over 85% and better than a commercial product.Highlights► The multi-walled carbon nanotubes were covalently functionalized with l-histidine. ► His–MWNTs are used as online affinity adsorbents for IgG separation and purification. ► His–MWNTs based SPE adsorbent shows great potential in the affinity separation of proteins in complex matrix.

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) coated quartz wool (MWNTs/QW) prepared by dynamic layer-by-layer self-assembly was used as solid-phase extraction (SPE) absorbent for on-line separation and preconcentration of lysozyme in egg white. The coating procedures were performed continuously in a flow system operated by a set of sequential injection devices. The quartz wool was placed in a microcolumn forming a loose packing to guarantee the minimized flow impedance and the intimate contact between proteins and absorbent surface. Various parameters affecting SPE efficiency including the volume, pH, ionic strength and flow rate of sample and eluent were systematically studied. The feasibility of the proposed method was validated by successfully applied to the separation of lysozyme in egg white.